Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix
FIM MotoGP World Championship
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
October 28, 2017
Qualifying Results (all on Michelin tires):
From Qualifying Session Two:
1. Dani PEDROSA, Spain (HONDA), 1:59.212
2. Johann ZARCO, France (YAMAHA), 1:59.229
3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Italy (DUCATI), 1:59.236
4. Valentino ROSSI, Italy (YAMAHA), 1:59.498
5. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (YAMAHA), 1:59.538
6. Jorge LORENZO, Spain (DUCATI), 1:59.622
7. Marc MARQUEZ, Spain (HONDA), 1:59.694, crash
8. Alex RINS, Spain (SUZUKI), 1:59.992
9. Andrea IANNONE, Italy (SUZUKI), 2:00.119
10. Cal CRUTCHLOW, UK (HONDA), 2:00.181
11. Jack MILLER, Australia (HONDA), 2:00.326
12. Pol ESPARGARO, Spain (KTM), 2:00.770
From Qualifying Session One:
13. Danilo PETRUCCI, Italy (DUCATI), 2:00.351
14. Scott REDDING, UK (DUCATI), 2:00.451
15. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Spain (DUCATI), 2:00.469
16. Bradley SMITH, UK (KTM), 2:00.718
17. Loris BAZ, France (DUCATI), 2:01.050
18. Sam LOWES, UK (APRILIA), 2:01.207
19. Tito RABAT, Spain (HONDA), 2:01.228
20. Hector BARBERA, Spain (DUCATI), 2:01.413
21. Karel ABRAHAM, Czech Republic (DUCATI), 2:01.570
22. Michael Van Der MARK, Netherlands (YAMAHA), 2:02.376
More, from a press release issued by Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS:
Miller set for sizzling Sepang race
In baking hot conditions Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller has qualified 11th on the grid for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix.
Miller’s fourth row start comes on the back of a brilliant seventh place finish in his home race at Phillip Island just six days ago.
The gritty Australian continues to ride with a plate and eight screws in his fractured right leg, an injury suffered in a training accident four weeks ago.
Miller took his place in the all-important Q2 session with the sixth fastest lap time in the morning FP3 session.
However he could not repeat that sizzling performance for a single lap time attack in afternoon qualifying when track temperatures soared to 48 degrees.
More importantly Miller has posted a string of fast and consistent laps aboard his Honda RC213V in race trim, which points to a strong surge for a top ten finish in the 20-lap race.
Miller’s Spanish teammate Tito Rabat will start from 19th on the seventh row of the grid after posting a fastest lap of 2’01.228 in the Q1 session.
This was Rabat’s fastest lap of the weekend so far after struggling with his pace in the mixed weather conditions of Friday practice.
The Malaysian Grand Prix is round 17 of the MotoGP World Championship.
Jack Miller: 11th – 2’00.326
“We made some changes to the bike for qualifying but it wasn’t perfect and I did a faster time in FP3 this morning. I know the race pace is there, but it is a pity to miss out on doing a faster flying lap for a better spot on the grid. But starting 11th will do me nicely for the race, I’m looking forward to it.”
Tito Rabat: 19th – 2’01.228
“Today was very difficult and to be honest I am very disappointed with my performance, I tried 100% but this was the best I could do. All I can do now is try to find a way to be faster and do a strong race tomorrow and score some points.”
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“A good weekend so far for Jack although he struggled a little more than I expected in qualifying. Importantly Jack has a very good race pace and even though he is 11th on the grid I think he can aim for a strong result. So far Sepang has been a disaster for Tito and even though he tries 100% it is not easy for him to control his emotions when things are like this but I know he will put in a big effort for the race tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Yamaha Tech 3:
Remarkable Zarco soars to 2nd in Malaysian GP qualifying – Van der Mark primed for debut race
Johann Zarco showed his sublime talent by clinching his third consecutive front row start today in Malaysia. The rapid French rookie blazed to a lap time that left him first in the final moments of the thrilling session until he was pipped to pole by a mere 0.017. Nevertheless, the highly impressive result places him as the top Yamaha on the grid and tomorrow, he aims to close the flyaway races with a podium finish.
Meanwhile, stand-in rider Michael van der Mark will make his MotoGP debut from the 8th row on the grid after a determined performance today at the Sepang International circuit. His impressive performances throughout the weekend so far leave him confident for the main event, which begins at 15:00 local time, or 08:00 in central Europe.
Johann Zarco
Position 2nd – Time: 1’59.229 – Laps: 7
“It is so important to start the Grand Prix on the front row of the grid, and I even expected pole position because I was in first for a small amount of time at the end of Qualifying 2. I am happy because to be fast on a single lap is a good thing, but my pace is very competitive, so if we have dry and warm conditions tomorrow, then I think I will be able to win the race if I manage everything well. We will see what happens with regards to the weather, but I am just delighted to have this confidence which allows me to push in this way and I have high hopes for the round 17 fight.”
Michael van der Mark
Position 22nd – Time: 2’02.376 – Laps: 5
“I am a bit disappointed with the qualifying result. This morning in FP3, we made quite a solid step but, position wise, it wasn’t where I wanted to be, yet we have still made progress. In the afternoon, I had an issue with the rear grip and then, on the first lap, I struggled with the new tyre. On the second outing I felt better, but at turn five, I lost the front without warning. This is difficult to accept and I am sorry to the team as we were making steady progress in every session, but a crash is not what you want. The fall was due to a number of things and the track temperature was high, plus I don’t have much experience of this. Everyone was fast and this morning, you can see that I was only two seconds from the top, which was good and promising. I was hoping to make another step to the group in front of me because there are only a few tenths away. Now, we need to work because the rear of the bike is spinning too much at the exit of the corners and that’s the main factor to focus on. Anyway, tomorrow is race day, and I will gain a lot of experience but I hope I can fight with some riders and enjoy my time.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Gresini Racing:
SIXTH ROW FOR LOWES IN QUALIFYING AT SEPANG
Sam Lowes will start from the sixth row on the starting grid in the GP of Malaysia tomorrow. The English rider on Aprilia Racing Team Gresini did a time of 2’01.207 in qualifying, an improvement of 3 tenths from his times in FP3.
After demonstrating good confidence on the wet asphalt, Lowes continued working to achieve a good feeling in the dry. Given the climate of the Malaysian track, the weather is one of the key variables to keep an eye on for the race. The English rookie demonstrated consistent performance with used tyres; a response that lets him set his sights on the points zone.
SAM LOWES
“We worked a lot again today on the RS-GP, especially in terms of balance, because this morning I did not have a good feeling. We managed to take our pace to a good level. My performance with very used tyres is about a half a second from my best time and I think that in the dry we will be able to use the soft. In qualifying I made a few small mistakes. I wasn’t able to turn an ideal lap which would have placed me farther forward on the grid. In any case, we prepared well for the race, so whether it is held in the dry or in the wet, we have the potential to battle for points.”
More, from a press release issued by Reale Avintia Racing:
Reale Avintia riders ready to battle against the heat at Sepang
Reale Avintia Racing riders Loris Baz and Hector Barbera qualified in 17th and 20th place for tomorrow’s 20-lap Malaysian Grand Prix, in baking hot conditions at the Sepang International Circuit today.
Loris Baz did his best in Q1 and in his first time attack he managed to improve his best lap time from yesterday by 1.4s. After that he was getting even faster and had realistic options for a place in Q2, but he pushed the front of his Ducati too much and crashed out.
Things went the opposite way for his teammate Hector Barbera. The Spaniard, who was eighth fastest yesterday in dry conditions, was unable to improve his pace in Q1 and tomorrow he will start the race from the penultimate row of the grid. The only positive thing today was his race pace, so he hopes to be able to recover and score some championship points.
Loris Baz | 2’01.050 | P17
“Today was another tough day for us. We knew from yesterday that it was going to be hard, because we struggled in dry and wet conditions and we didn’t manage to make our bike competitive with used tyres. So we need to find a solution before the race. With new tyres, the pace is not so bad, I was able to do one fast lap at the beginning of qualifying. Then I had a great opportunity following Alex (Rins), but I went long in one corner, was deeper on the brakes than usual and crashed. It is a shame because the lap was really fast. But to be honest, the most important thing is the race and we are not ready yet. I pray for a dry race, because the wet conditions yesterday were a disaster for us.”
Hector Barbera | 2’01.413 | P20
“Sepang is a circuit where we tested a lot and where we have good references. I’m usually fast here, but today it was really tough. It was the same story of the whole season so far: I’m fast on Friday, but then I hit a wall and it’s impossible to go faster. Today we made a big change on the bike set-up and we improved the chatter issues, but we lost in other areas, so we need to find a balance. Tomorrow the race could be wet, last year I was fourth in wet conditions, but yesterday we also struggled in the rain. We will see what the weather brings tomorrow, but dry or wet I’ll give my best to get a good result.”
More, from a press release issued by Octo Pramac Racing:
Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix – Qualifying
Row 5 start for Octo Pramac Racing riders in the #MalaysianGP with Petrux 13th and Scott 14th on the grid
Danilo Petrucci and Scott Redding will start from thirteenth and fourteenth position respectively on the grid of the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix.
After the rain of the FP2, Sepang’s Saturday gave to the last qualifying session of the “triple header” a nice sunshine that kept the circuit conditions constant.
Danilo Petrucci takes a step ahead of the dry FP1 and finishes the FP3 only one tenth of a second from the direct qualification to Q2. The italian riders is second after the first run of Q1 but during his last time attack he didn’t manage to make that small step to pass the round. Petrux ends the Q1 at one tenth of a second from second place.
Scott Redding has to contend with the influence that has debilitated him in recent days, but his feeling with his Ducati DesmosediciGP improves lap after lap, especially in Q1. The English rider fought until the last run and ended 14th, one tenth of a second behind his team mate.
13th Danilo Petrucci – 2’00.351
“I can’t say I’m happy but honestly the feeling is not bad even if perhaps we have reached a good set up only at the end of the FP4. I lost the Q2 qualifying session twice for a tenth today: it could have gone better but I think I’ve got a good pace so that I can stay in the Top 10 tomorrow even in the dry”.
14th Scott Redding – 2’00.451
“It was tough even today for me but I’m happy about how things went. If I have to be honest when I’m on the track, I feel better but the problems come out when I’m in the garage. I am quite satisfied with this qualifying because the feeling in Q1 was positive. I hope to feel a little better tomorrow to do well in the race”.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
THIRD ROW FOR BOTH IANNONE AND RINS IN SEPANG QUALIFYING
The Malaysian heat has been blazing down on the Sepang circuit today, forcing riders to make great efforts to race. In these challenging conditions, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR riders Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins had some success today. They both classified for the third row for tomorrow’s grid. The young Spaniard set his GSX-RR in 8th place, while the Italian is in 9th.
In the dry session in the morning, both Iannone and Rins were able to handle their bikes well and set a fast pace and lap times; the Italian made it into 8th place (2’00.394 his best time) which gave him direct access to Q2. The young Spaniard instead took more time to get acquainted with the GSX-RR on the difficult Malaysian circuit, coming in 11th with his time of 2’00.746 only 0.051s behind the top ten. Nearly the same time (2’00.768) took Rins up to 3rd place in the afternoon’s FP4 where he set with a solid pace. Meanwhile, Iannone encountered a few more difficulties, ending in 13th with 2’01.233.
With a good feeling from the two previous sessions, Rins took to the track for Q1 and immediately clocked fast laps. He was finally able to take advantage of the second tyre for the 2’00.138 that rewarded him with first place and gave him the 11th place slot for the Q2 session. The top 12 qualifying was hard fought, with Alex and Andrea battling fiercely. As lap times began to drop in the very end of the session, Rins put together a brilliant lap under two minutes, one of only eight riders capable of pulling it off. Indeed, his final 1’59.992 converted to an 8th place finish. Iannone missed breaking the 2’ barrier by only 0.119s, classifying in 9th at 0.127 behind his Spanish team mate.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“We are happy because we have both riders in the third row, so it’s not too bad. We are pretty close to the top riders, so we´ll try to have a good race. Today Alex was brave because he had to do twice the work with Q1 and Q2. He did a good job improving his race pace. Regarding Andrea, maybe he couldn’t take make use of the qualifying like he wanted, but he is 9th in the grid, and if he is able to make a good start he could have a good race tomorrow.”
Alex Rins
“It was a bit hard throughout the sessions because the heat was incredible on the track. I struggled a bit, but I’m really happy because, in the beginning, we were suffering until FP3. During FP4 I worked alone to try to get a good race pace and I got it. I was trying to push it to the limit to get into Q2. Finally we achieved it and I’m happy because it is my best qualifying of the season. We will have to wait and see what the weather conditions look like for tomorrow.”
Andrea Iannone
“In general we are not at 100%. I can’t ride as I would like. We have some problems and I suffer a bit with the lack of grip. Until FP3, the situation was more or less not so bad, but then we had an issue during FP4. There was a problem that affected qualifying. So, it was complicated. We did our best with the situation we had, maybe gaining one tenth. The race is tomorrow, so now it’s time to decide the race tires. At the moment it is quite difficult to know which ones are the best for the race.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda:
CRUTCHLOW TO START FROM THE FOURTH ROW AT SEPANG
LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow will start the Malaysian Grand Prix from tenth position on the grid. With conditions remaining dry at the Sepang International Circuit on Saturday, the Briton looked well placed to secure a spot towards the front of the field, but suffered a fall during qualifying which ensured he had to settle for a spot on the fourth row for the penultimate round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Having posting the sixth fastest time on a damp first day in Malaysia aboard his Castrol branded RCV, Crutchlow again impressed during FP3 as he finished in seventh to secure his place in Q2. However, an untimely fall ended his hopes of pushing for a place on the front row in a session which saw fellow Honda rider Dani Pedrosa claim pole position for Sunday’s race.
Cal Crutchlow – 10th
(2’00.181 – lap 3 of 5)
“Today was a lot better day in the dryer conditions, I feel confident and good with the bike. I think we were set for a very good qualifying lap, maybe on the front row, but I made a mistake in turn seven when pushing for the best possible lap time. I lost the front tyre which was a lot better for braking, but not so good for turning.
“I’m disappointed to be tenth on the grid, but we made fifth position last week from tenth on the grid so we have to stay positive and see what we can do tomorrow in the long race of Malaysia.”
More, from a press release issued by Movistar Yamaha:
MOVISTAR YAMAHA TEAMMATES SECURE SECOND ROW START IN SEPANG
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP‘s Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales continued to elevate their competitive form in this afternoon‘s hot qualifying session at the Sepang International Circuit. The teammates will start tomorrow‘s Malaysian Grand Prix from fourth and fifth position on the grid.
Sepang (Malaysia), 28th October 2017
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP‘s Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales enjoyed a full-on second day of MotoGP action at the Sepang International Circuit. Today in FP3 and FP4 they continued working on their YZR-M1s in dry conditions. After they both secured places in the Q2 session, the pair went on to set some seriously impressive lap times, under the 2’00s-mark, to secure fourth and fifth place respectively on the grid for tomorrow‘s Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Having set the fastest time in FP3 and the combined free practice timesheets, Rossi was motivated to do his passionate Malaysian fans proud again in Q2 and quickly headed towards the pit lane exit, in the midst of the rider field. His first flying lap put him in seventh place and he briefly moved up to fifth on his next attempt, but was pushed back to eighth as he made his way back to the pit box.
With four minutes on the clock the Doctor was back for a second run at the 5.5 km long circuit. He had time for two more tries and was determined to make the most of them. He set a 1‘59.498s to take over pole briefly, but late efforts from his rivals after the flag came out relegated him to fourth position, 0.286s from first. Unable to improve on his last lap, the Italian will start tomorrow‘s race from the second row of the grid.
Viñales approached the Q2 session with a different tactic than his teammate. Despite the fact that the lengthy track allows little time for multiple hot laps, he waited until most of the other riders had left pit lane before stepping aboard his Yamaha. Enjoying some clear space, his first attempt saw him settle into fifth position and he quickly followed this up with a provisional front row result, posting a 1‘59.673s for second place.
The Spaniard made a quick pit stop with a little less than seven minutes remaining and was ready to put his head down again two minutes later, as the times dropped. He wasn‘t able to improve on his next attempt, but turned up the heat on his final flying lap and set a 1’59.538s to move up from fifth to third. However, a last-minute flurry of activity after the chequered flag was already out, saw him end the session in fifth place, 0.326s from the front. Tomorrow he will line up on the second row of the starting grid, right beside his teammate.
Keen-eyed spectators might have noticed a difference in the livery of the bikes today. The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders were showing off the orange ENEOS branding on the lower cowling, to highlight the long-standing partnership between Yamaha and JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy (the brand owner of ENEOS), that started in 2012.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
Today was quite full-on for the team, in order for us to make another step concerning the dry set-up of the bike. It wasn‘t easy, because it was another hot day at the Sepang track, which makes riding three sessions in total a real challenge, but our riders came through. Valentino and Maverick were finally quite comfortable with their bikes and were able to push hard. Vale had already shown he’s feeling good on the dry when he set the fastest time in FP3. His pace has been very fast in all of today‘s sessions and his fourth position on the grid is not a bad result. Maverick wasn‘t quite as comfortable in this morning‘s session, but he and his crew could improve his feeling just in time for the qualifying. He’ll also be on the second row of the grid, which is a good starting point. Today we were able to compare almost all the tyre choices and we have a bit of an idea about which tyres both riders will use in tomorrow‘s race. We‘ll continue to work tonight to see if we can find a way to fine-tune the balance of the bikes and find some extra time in some parts of the track. Here the weather can play a big role in the outcome of the race, so we‘ll have to adapt to whatever situation comes our way.
VALENTINO ROSSI
In general it was a good day, because already from this morning I felt good with the bike. Into qualifying we were still working, because the level of the top five or six riders was very close, it was very balanced, we‘re all the same. I tried to push, my lap was good, I rode well. The lap time was OK, I saw P1 at that moment, but after that the others improved. Starting from P4 is a good position, but we have to work on the balance of the bike because I‘m not fast enough yet in some places. Like always, the tyre decision and the weather conditions will be very important tomorrow. For me it‘s still open which tyre to use on the front and for the rear, we have to decide if we go with the medium or the hard and also the combination between the two, it depends. First of all, I hope for good weather tomorrow, so we can try to race with the slicks.
MAVERICK VIÑALES
Today‘s qualifying was very close, all the riders‘ times were very close together. We are 0.3s from first and I‘m happy. In FP3 I didn‘t feel so well, but then we made some changes on the bike in FP4 and I felt good again. I think that for tomorrow we still have some room for improvement and that‘s very important. I feel really good and I think I have a clear idea on which tyre I’ll use for the race. I‘m especially happy because there were many races where throughout the weekend we didn‘t make good steps forward, but here we made great progress. We have to be very intelligent about tomorrow‘s race, first of all about deciding on the tyres. We have to choose the best option for our bike. In the end I think we have the package, I‘m good on the brakes and feel strong there compared to the other riders, so let‘s see if we can get the job done tomorrow.
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Pedrosa takes impressive pole position at Sepang, Marquez seventh despite early crash
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa took a fantastic pole position for tomorrow’s Malaysian GP—his third this year, his 31st in MotoGP, and the 49th in his career.
After struggling in the wet on Friday, Dani was able to consistently improve his pace in today’s sunny and hot conditions, setting the third fastest lap time in FP3 and the fifth quickest in FP4 before besting Johann Zarco and Andrea Dovizioso by 0.017” and 0.024”, respectively, in the last minute of an incredibly hard-fought qualifying session.
After ending FP3 in ninth place, Championship leader Marc Marquez found a good pace in FP4, securing the top spot. He also once again demonstrated his unbelievable bike control, saving a front-end slide in turn one, although he was subsequently unlucky in qualifying, crashing at turn 15 during his first flying lap, on which he had been setting the fastest lap as he entered the third sector.
He immediately returned to the garage, mounted his second bike, and recorded what at the moment was the third fastest time. He improved again on his last run, but not enough, and had to settle for the seventh spot on the grid despite having the pace and speed to run at the front.
Tomorrow’s race will begin at 3 p.m. local time.
Dani Pedrosa 26
POLE 1’59.212
“I’m very happy with this pole, which is our third this year. It’s a nice feeling because I usually struggle in qualifying, but the track improved a lot with today’s sunny conditions, offering good grip. Both tyres worked very well in qualifying, so I was able to find the rhythm on my first flying lap and set a good time, and then I pushed harder and improved on my second run. I made a couple of little mistakes but it was enough for the pole, which is fantastic. I’m happy for the team, as this pole is for them. We’ll have to see what the conditions are like for the race as we’re still struggling in the wet, so we’re really hoping for the sun tomorrow.”
Marc Marquez 93
7TH 1’59.694
“We’re not at our best at the moment, but I think our race pace is better then our qualifying position. This morning we made a small mistake with the setup and lost the direction a little bit. Then we sorted things out and I felt really good on the bike again in FP4, but in qualifying I crashed on my first run, which completely changed our plans. I had to take my second bike but I didn’t feel perfect on it, so I did a lap that was good but not good enough. Anyway, we’re not happy with today but not completely disappointed either, as our pace isn’t bad. Tomorrow we’ll try and have a good race. It won’t be easy because here, every time you go on track the feeling is different, depending on temperature, if it rains or not, and so on, so we’ll see what it’s like tomorrow and do our best, like always.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
First and second row starts for Ducati Team riders at Sepang. Andrea Dovizioso third and Jorge Lorenzo sixth in qualifying for the Shell Malaysia Grand Prix
Andrea Dovizioso will start the Malaysian Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship which gets underway at 15.00 local time (08.00 CET) on Sunday, from the front row of the grid at the Sepang International Circuit. The Italian rider set third-quickest time in Q2, after finishing FP3, which determined which riders would go through to the all-important second qualifying session, in fourth place.
It will be a second row start on the other hand for Jorge Lorenzo, who was sixth quickest in the afternoon’s Q2 session after finishing the morning’s FP3 run in fifth place.
All today’s track action took place in perfect weather conditions, with clear skies but scorching hot temperatures, which in qualifying reached 34° C (air), 47° (track) and 49% humidity.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1’59.236 (3rd)
“The front row was our target and we achieved it today, but I’m even happier about our speed, which is fundamental this weekend. If you don’t have a good pace, it’s no good thinking about race strategies and we were fast in all the conditions, especially in the dry and with used tyres like this afternoon in FP4. In qualifying I did an almost perfect lap, and this gave me an immense satisfaction! We are ready for tomorrow, in any weather conditions: the bike is going really well, we are quick and this is the most important thing, because our aim is to fight for the win.”
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 1’59.622 (6th)
“It was a positive day, even though about four tenths were missing for me to get onto the front row. In qualifying I lapped with consistent times but I was missing a ‘demon’ lap to be able to fight for the pole position. However I’m happy, because we improved the bike a lot during the weekend and I also managed to improve my riding style, especially under braking. Tomorrow we can stay in the leading group and if we have a good pace, fight for an important result.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM:
MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT PUTS RED BULL KTM MOTOGP TEAM AGAIN IN TOP 12 AT MALAYSIAN GP
QUALIFYING 17th Rd. MotoGP 2017 – Sepang International Circuit (MAL)
Qualifying for the Malaysian MotoGP race has been another highlight in the debut year for the Red Bull KTM MotoGP Factory Racing team as once more a KTM RC16 advanced from Q1 to Q2 with Pol Espargaro searing around the Sepang International Circuit to start from 12th position. The Spaniard said it was one of his best laps ever as he found an improvement of 1.1 seconds from the test earlier in the year to only be a fraction away from a magic sub 2 minute lap of Sepang.
Moto2 saw a front row start for KTM for the second weekend on the bounce as Miguel Oliviera took KTM to second place meaning only once this year has he been outside the top ten in qualifying.
In Moto3, Bo Bendsneyder heads the second row of the grid with his Red Bull KTM Ajo and is looking forward to the race tomorrow as he went well he last year with 3rd in he Grand Prix.
Sepang has happy memories for KTM as it was here in 2004 that the Austrian manufacturer won its first Grand Prix, the first of the 74 Grands Prix that KTM have now won in 125cc, 250cc, Moto3 and now Moto2.
MotoGP
Scorching temperatures once more were order of the Malaysian MotoGP weekend as the towards the end of qualifying track temperatures were 55 degrees celcius, the hottest of the year, but this did nothing to quell the speed of the KTM RC16 for its qualifying debut at Sepang. One of the best laps ever from Pol Espargaro meant KTM once more leapt from Q1 to Q2 even though he suffered a high speed crash on his last run. He was back in the garage in a matter of minutes before returning to the track for one final run in Q2 but unfortunately couldn’t improve so will start from 12th. His Q1 time was good enough for a spot knocking on the door of another top 10 start. For KTM it is their tenth top 12 grid spot during their debut season in MotoGP.
Team mate Bradley Smith also improved from his pre-season time, by 0.7 seconds, and will start 16th, the Birt losing a little time at the last corner of his fastest lap but confident he can find that time in tomorrow’s race.
All MotoGP teams did a three day test here in early February but since then the RC16 has been developed with many new parts so the 1.14 second improvement in lap time today is on going proof of the commitment of the KTM Motorsport factory in Austria.
Espargaro: “I think here for me it’s not easy here as I’ve struggled quite a lot but today I think I’ve done one of my best laps ever. The bike has improved so much as I took 1.1 seconds off my lap time from the test again going forward to Q2. The crash was very unlucky as I think I could have done a 1m 59s which would’ve been massive for the guys working so hard on this project as it proves the bike is getting better and better. In fact, looking at the ideal time of my best sectors it was a 1m 59.9 so that’s a massive step we’ve made. Physically I’m OK but in these conditions everything is so much harder so I’m lucky not to have any pain. The race is tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it rain or shine.”
Smith: “First and foremost I’m frustrated not to go forward to Q2 as things have gone so well over the last two weekends so to miss out on that was a little annoying as a made a slight mistake at the last corner. Today didn’t quite give me the feeling for one lap but fair play to the guys at the front as a 2m 0.1sec to go through to Q2 is no clowning around so I’m happy with what I was able to do. We’ve made steps forward in FP4 for race pace but this of all tracks is a trade off of braking and also the flowing corners too.”
Sebastian Risse (Technical Director MotoGP): “It wasn’t an easy day but it was a good day with Pol to get through to Q2: A great achievement. This was impressive as we had some problems with set up so it wasn’t an easy weekend by any means but still the final result is great for the team. When we look back at the 2017 test in February it is a big difference and very satisfying to see how the bike has developed so we shall now see how the bike will be when we come back here in February 2018 because that’s not so far away from now. That will be a ‘different bike’ again so I’m curious to see that progress too. Meanwhile, we have the race tomorrow so I mustn’t get ahead of myself.”
Moto2
Fresh from their first ever victory in the Moto2 class last weekend in Australia the KTMs today had another stellar day with Miguel Oliveira getting 2nd position on the grid, just 0.026 seconds behind pole position. Again, the new for 2017 KTM Moto2 bike has shown its speed and agility at a race track to which it had never been before. This was backed up by Brad Binder getting 8th place with the sister bike as his return to the sharp end continues after early season injury.
Oliveira: “I felt very good today. I’m very happy with this second position, and with getting back on the front row. I think we can say that we are a little more consistent than at Phillip Island. Tomorrow will be a battle of attrition in a way, because it is very hot, we will lose a lot of grip and it is easy to crash over the course of the race. We will be aware of all these factors and of the weather, which can change at any time; as always we will go out to enjoy ourselves and give everything in the race.”
Binder: “Today went much better than yesterday. This morning, from the first stint, we maintained a very steady pace and I felt very strong on the bike. In the afternoon, in qualifying, I felt really good on the bike and everything was very easy. On the last lap I was giving it 110%, but on the first sector I slowed down a little – although I was able to recover and set my best time at the end. I’m happy to be starting from eighth. I would have liked to have started a little further forward, but it’s much better than 20th, as I was used to placing this season. We have a very good pace and tomorrow in the race I will try to give my all from the beginning.”
Moto3
Bo Bendsneyder had a great day aboard his Red Bull KTM Ajo bike as he sped to the front of the second row for the Malaysian Moto3 Grand Prix. The Dutchman has gone well at this track after finishing on the podium here last year so hopes his run of form continues. The speed of the KTM RC250 GP carried across to his team mate, Niccolo Antonelli who will start 10th. KTM have had four victories in 125cc and Moto3 at Sepang with the Ajo squad having a rider on the Moto3 podium every year since the introduction of the Moto3 class in 2012.
Bendsneyder: “Today’s penultimate qualifying session of the year didn’t go perfectly. Yesterday we made some changes to the setup of the bike with QP in mind, and they didn’t worked as well as we had expected. Tomorrow we will fine tune some details. However, we have a good position for tomorrow’s race, although we must improve if we want to be up with the front group throughout the race. We will go all out.”
Antonelli: “Qualifying here in Sepang went very well. After some QPs that had not gone as we expected, we achieved a good result and the whole team are satisfied with this fourth position. On the last stint I changed a small aspect of my riding and it brought results. I am happy about Saturday, but now we have to focus on being prepared to give a good fight tomorrow. I’m going to fight hard, I’m looking forward to the race.”
Races: October 29, 2017 – Moto3 12:00 | Moto2 13:20 | MotoGP 15:00 CET
Results Qualifying MotoGP Sepang International Circuit 2017
1. Dani Pedrosa (ESP), Honda, 1:59.212 min
2. Johann Zarco (FRA), Yamaha, +0.017 sec
3. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, +0.024
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA), Yamaha, +0.286
5. Maverick Vinales (ESP), Yamaha, +0.326
12. Pol Espargaro (ESP), KTM, +1.558 (Q2)
16. Bradley Smith (GBR), KTM, +1.506 (Q1)
Results Qualifying Moto2 Sepang International Circuit 2017
1. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Kalex, 2:06.406 min
2. Miguel Oliveira (POR), KTM, +0.026 sec
3. Fabio Quartarao (FRA), Kalex, +0.072
4. Alex Marquez (ESP), Kalex, +0.105
5. Tom Luethi (SUI), Kalex, +0.187
8. Brad Binder (RSA), KTM, +0.503
Results Qualifying Moto3 Sepang International Circuit 2017
1. Joan Mir (ESP), Honda, 2:12.078 min
2. Jorge Martin (ESP), Honda, +0.379 sec
2. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Honda, +0.738
4. Bo Bendsneyder (NED), KTM, +1.083
5. Gabriel Rodrigo (ESP), KTM, +1.087
10. Niccolo Antonelli (ITA), KTM, +1.341
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Turning up the heat: Pedrosa steals the show for pole at Sepang
Repsol Honda rider just 0.017 ahead of Zarco – with Dovizioso third and Marquez seventh
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) topped an incredible qualifying shootout at Sepang International Circuit, with the front row split by only 0.024 seconds and the Little Samurai coming out on top. Pedrosa, the pole record holder, put in a number of quick laps towards the end and stole it on his final attempt to take his eleventh front row and fourth pole at the venue. Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was second, top Independent Team rider and top Yamaha, ahead of the first of the title challengers: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team).
Dovizioso was only 0.024 seconds off pole and was the man provisionally set to take it until the final few seconds, but the Italian holds the cards after key rival and points leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had a more difficult session and will line up seventh – on the third row. Marquez crashed on his first flier, taking a tumble at Turn 15 but able to get the bike going and head down pitlane, and was unable to threaten once back out on track. It’s only the second time ever in the premier class the reigning Champion has failed to qualify in the top six.
The second row is headed by Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) after the first man into the 1:59s on Saturday morning was able to get the better of teammate Maverick Viñales, with the Spaniard just 0.040 off the veteran Italian and lining up in fifth. Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) completes an all-star second row, again within a tenth of the man ahead of him.
Behind Marquez is Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – the first of the Q2 graduates – who just beat teammate Andrea Iannone, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) completing the top ten after a crash.
Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) lines up P11, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in twelfth and once again keeping the Austrian manufacturer in Q2 as their impressive form continues. Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) and teammate Scott Redding line up in thirteenth and fourteenth, with Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) rounding out the fastest fifteen.
Now it’s race day – with Dovizioso ready for a last stand off the front row, and Marquez looking to pick his way through from seventh as he faces his first chance at the crown.
MotoGP Qualifying Results
1 – Dani Pedrosa (SPA – Honda) 1’59.212
1st Independent Team Rider:
2 – Johann Zarco (FRA – Yamaha) +0.017
3 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) +0.024
Morbidelli on pole in dramatic Moto2™ qualifying
Championship leader just off pole record pace as Luthi takes a tumble
Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) set himself up for a final push towards the Championship crown on Saturday at Sepang, taking pole by just 0.026 ahead of Phillip Island winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – despite a lowside crash for the points leader. Also within a tenth of pole, rookie Fabio Quartararo (Pons HP 40) pulled out a stunner for P3 and his first ever front row in the intermediate class.
The big headline from the session, however, was a huge highside crash for Championship contender Tom Lüthi (CarXpert Interwetten), with the Swiss rider getting to his feet but headed to the Medical Center and later local hospital for a check up. Lüthi was fifth fastest, with EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider Alex Marquez just beating him to fourth. Rookie of the Year Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) took sixth to complete Row 2.
Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) was top Suter in seventh, just ahead of the second KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) locks out the third row, with Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top ten despite a crash early in the session.
Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) lines up for his home race in eleventh, ahead of Axel Pons (RW Racing GP), Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP), Xavi Vierge (Tech 3 Racing) and Isaac Viñales (BE-A-VIP SAG Team).
The crown is on the line on Sunday from 13:20 (GMT +8).
Moto2 Qualifying Results
1 – Franco Morbidelli (ITA – Kalex) 2’06.406
2 – Miguel Oliveira (POR – KTM) + 0.026
3 – Fabio Quartararo (FRA – Kalex) +0.046
Mir unleashed: Champion takes first pole of the year
A stunning new lap record denies Jorge Martin on the final push
Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) has taken his first pole position of the season – and his second ever – a week after wrapping up the 2017 crown at Phillip Island. Almost half a second quicker than the previous lap record for Jack Miller that has stood since 2014, Mir made his final lap count and beat a time from Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) that had seemed a done deal for pole. Martin lines up second, with British Talent Team rider John McPhee completing the front row as the last man within a second of pole.
Conditions were dry and skies were blue for qualifying, and it seemed Martin’s early effort to top the timesheets would reign supreme. But after winning the Championship last time out, Mir threw everything at the chance to take his first pole of the year – and broke the lap record.
Bo Bendsneyder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) heads up the second row as a late improver, with Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Racing Team) remounting from a slow spin at Turn 1 to take fifth. Jules Danilo (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) was sixth quickest, but the Frenchman faces a three-place grid penalty handed out at Phillip Island.
Livio Loi (Leopard Racing) will therefore benefit after going seventh fastest in qualifying, ahead of Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) and Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0). Niccolo Antonelli (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) completed the fastest ten men.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) took P11, P12 and P13 respectively, with Canet having a more difficult weekend in the dry so far but having reigned supreme in the wet. Ayumu Sasaki was fourteenth quickest and the fastest rookie, just ahead of teammate Adam Norrodin as the two SIC Racing Team bikes round out the fastest fifteen, racing at home.
Now race day awaits, with Mir looking to chase more records, Martin searching for his first win, and McPhee aiming for a bounce back to rostrum form. The lights go out at 12:00 (GMT +8).
Moto3 Qualifying Results
1 – Joan Mir (SPA – Honda) 2’12.078
2 – Jorge Martin (SPA – Honda) +0.379
3 – John McPhee (GBR – Honda) + 0.738